My name is Yda Hext.
I was born in the Eorzean city state Alamhigo. My father was Curtis Hext, the leader of the resistance movement against the then Mad King Theodoric. My mother was one of the survivors of his Monk purges.
Our father hid her away and brought my mother into his home. I was born not too long after.
Sadly she died around the time my sister was born. There were complications after the birth, but getting a reliable doctor would involve going to the city proper, where my father served as a royal guard. She didn't want to risk bringing the wrath of Theodoric upon us, less risk informing one of Theodorics loyal followers.
I loved her so much, but knowing my baby sister would never come to know our mother as I did, I would fill that role in her stead.
I intended to devote my whole life to this following the revolution, and forgo my duties as a part of the resistance.
But then the empire came…
We won our freedom from Theodoric only to lose the next day.
Father told me to take Lyse and run.
So I did…without looking back…
Barely old enough to walk, I had to teach this 5 year old how to gather and hunt.
There were good days and there were bad…most of of what I hunted went to Lyse.
I thought that would be our lives until we met Papalymo and Louisoix.
As a teenager I had resigned myself to giving what little I could offer to raise Lyse. Alone.
But it didn't have to be that way.
In the Eorzean Sharlayan we found so many opportunities, friends, family.
I had joined the ranks of the Archons. Something I never would've done alone. Papalymo curt as he could be, never stopped supporting me, and he always babysat when I asked.
Uncle Papa Lyse called him.
We were happy.
But alas…we had to abandon our new home. The empire had broke ground for Eorzea and so as part of the community we too had to partake in the Exodus.
We would be moved to Old Sharlayan. Something I had to explain to Lyse constantly. I didn't want to leave either, no one did. Papalymo had to spend time helping calm Lord Louisoix every time he broached the subject with Forchenault. His son on the Forum.
It wasn't easy, but as soon as we arrived Lyse had changed her tune.
The ocean view from the house helped her settle in.
Following that however, I had resolved to re-involve myself in the struggle with the Empire. Ala mhigos struggle. Papalymo came in tow, but said he had to do this in tow with tasks from Louisoix.
If that be the case, then I too would aid the cause. I was fully inducted in the Circle of Knowing as the years went by.
Keeping an eye on things in the free City-state Gridania, aiding the Ala Mhigan resistance, and raising Lyse, I was busier than ever.
Thankfully Lyse had found a place in Old Sharlayan and found no small amount of new friends. All the while babysitting Lord Louisoix's grandchildren.
I was so proud of her. Father would be too. She was looking more like our mother than I was every day.
Things carried on like that, then during one of my missions out to the Lochs in Ala Mhigo, I met this little girl.
Her name was Fordola. 13 years old, and recently lost her father to an Ala Mhigan riot.
The imperials just stood there…
My father fought for our people to be better than this!
The more time I spent with her, the more I was reminded of raising Lyse. For all my service to the resistance and the Circle of Knowing, that was the most fulfilling role of my life.
Though the circumstances differed greatly Fordola and I lost our father and afterward lost everyone who we could rely on. Her mother was catatonic at present from how she describes it.
So at last I came to a decision. Lyse was 19 and was turning into a woman.
When it was time to move the refugees I would give Fordola a place among their number. Then I would bring her back to Sharlayan for her to live out her life in peace.
When I gave her my offer, she of course asked things as only a child could. Her mother I might've found a way to bring too, but I've already crossed a line trying to bring Fordola into the fold while trying to keep to my duties to the resistance and the Circle.
I told her to think on it before the day we had planned to escort the refugees.
Eager as I was I already knew her answer. If it were me I wouldn't leave my family behind to save myself.
If I didn't have Lyse to worry about I would've stayed behind with Father to fight Garlemald.
Once the operation was underway I wouldn't be this close to Ala Mhigo again for weeks.
So I had planned one last play day with Fordola to say goodbye.
Plans I had felt foolish for even considering in hindsight.
How long had the imperials been watching Fordola?
I was never this sloppy!
I had put in her danger and her family as well!
So I acted quickly.
Put on a farce to make it look like I was leading Fordola by the nose for information. Thank Rhalgr she understood was going on.
She ran at my warning and I begun my last stand against the Imperials,
Papalymo forgive me.
One by one, two by two, they came and I struck them down, but they just kept coming Magitek and all.
That was fine, I had no intention of surviving only keeping their attention on me.
Whatever it took to save Fordola!
My wounds compounded and I was limping. I managed to put down one last imperial before I was caught at the neck.
Quietly I said goodbye to Fordola, Papalymo, Lyse...I had led them away. I was surrounded. There were imperials around every corner. I was going to die here. I was ready to die...
But then...why was I still alive?
When I closed my eyes I had a sword to my throat.
I heard a bang and felt the rush of air around me. I expected to find myself in the afterlife. But when I opened my eyes again I was looking out at the Fringes. I could feel the wind on my face. I could breathe. I could feel my heartbeat. I felt a cooling air over my being.
Healing magick?
I spotted two swords in the corner of my eye. I recognized them as Garlean, but one did have more grit than the other.
As I looked around I saw a figure kneeling at a heap. When my vision came into focus I saw the Garlean solider from before.
Did he save me!?
Upon closer inspection the heap he was kneeling towards was armor. The Garlean variety, but the design was altered, and the boy...
This boy...
Was just looking down at the armor. Had this melancholy look on his face.
He looked so sad...he couldn't have been any older than Lyse.
How long had we been here?
I re-assessed our surroundings and there were no signs of Imperials to note as far as I could see, but there was no way to tell how long it would stay that way.
I had to get us out of here!
When the healing aura dissipated I got up and approached him. I carefully put my hand on his shoulder, and he didn't budge.
"We have to go." I said as gently as I could. As the boy turned to face me I saw the trademark third eye of the Garleans...except it was black. Seeing his two other bright eyes up close I could see the sadness in his soul. If the situation did not call for haste, I might've hugged him.
The poor thing looked like a lost puppy.
Despite this, he slowly nodded and got up to follow me. As he picked up his blades he took one last look at his armor.
I wonder if it belonged to someone important to him.
I asked for his name, but he seemed to be off in his mind, so I let it go for now.
However long I was out he had gotten us pretty far, I link-pearled Papalymo to let him know I was coming back, much to his relief. I had much to answer for after giving him my "final farewell."
I could feel his relief stymied as I told him I was bringing this Imperial with us.
There was no end to the tactics Garleans used to strangle a nation, like saving one to kill 1000 later.
But I knew this wasn't the case. When the Garleans found me it was to make a mark out of Fordola. I came up with the best story to justify my 'villainous' intent to use her for information. She had already turned down my offer to leave Ala Mhigo and so I had to protect her innocence.
I was too strong to capture alive and I knew too much to let escape, killing me was their safest bet and I'm sure they wanted to avenge their soldiers.
There was no reason for him to save me. None.
Even without that, this boy looked so lost. He stayed quiet the whole way back to Baelsar's Wall, hardly reacting to the hostile resistance members ready to put a blade at his throat.
He still reacted to me though. I finally got a name too. Bayn.
Papalymo didn't outright jeer at this young man, but he was hardly sitting well with the situation.
That is the fact I was bringing Bayn home with me. To Sharlayan. To our home. I called in every favor I could to make this happen.
Bein hadn't so much as asked once where we were going, he just naturally followed me.
"Like a puppy." I chuckled.
Once we were docked I removed my mask and led Bein to Emigration. Thanks to Lord Louisoix there would be no trouble, he just had to be processed.
I went first to show him what he had to do, I wasn't worried until the immigration staff started to sweat, they had never seen a Garlean before to my knowledge.
Bein ended up stating his rank and position in the military making the whole staff weary.
I didn't let it bother me and just comforted him when he started to apologize.
Compared to what was to come, this was nothing.
Introducing him to my sister would be a whole hurdle unto itself.
But the truth wouldn't change.
I was only here because Bayn gave me another chance at life.
For that, I would welcome him into my home. As family.